As the official public sale of Pump.fun’s token approaches, significant activity has emerged across decentralized derivatives exchanges, where large investors appear to be managing risk by taking early positions. Market data shows that whales are interacting with pre-market perpetual contracts, particularly on platforms like Hyperliquid and Binance, as they anticipate potential volatility during the token’s initial coin offering (ICO), scheduled for July 12. Related Reading: Crypto Market Cap On Track To $4.5 Trillion As Q3 Unfolds – Details Perpetual Market Signals Whale Hedging Strategy Three prominent wallets have collectively deposited over $11 million in USDC on Hyperliquid to open short positions on the newly listed PUMP perpetual contract. These trades appear to function as hedges against anticipated allocations in the upcoming token generation event. According to on-chain tracker Lookonchain and explorer Hypurrscan, the structure of these positions, utilizing low leverage and modest open interest compared to margin collateral, suggests a defensive rather than speculative stance. One wallet, identified as “0xAc72,” allocated $4 million in margin and opened a 2x leveraged short valued at approximately $1.07 million at an entry price of $0.00504. This trader’s liquidation point sits at $0.02138, offering a wide buffer that implies the position is less about profit from a downturn and more about offsetting potential downside risk from PUMP exposure in the ICO. Two additional wallets deployed a combined $7 million in margin to open 1x leveraged shorts. Together, these positions amount to roughly $2.39 million in open interest, a small portion of their posted collateral. Hyperliquid’s open interest in PUMP has surpassed $43 million since listing the token in the early hours of Thursday’s European session. Binance followed suit by listing a PUMP perpetual contract, which quickly amassed over $12 billion in trading volume, indicating heightened market anticipation. It is worth noting that the early trading could serve multiple purposes, including valuation locking by whales, arbitrage strategies related to expected airdrops, or speculative profit-taking based on retail momentum. Pump.fun Token Launch Nears as Pricing Premium Narrows The PUMP token initially debuted in pre-market trading at a roughly 40% premium to its ICO price of $0.004. It reached a high of $0.0056 on Hyperliquid before retreating to around $0.0047 levels, a level closer to its public sale valuation. The narrowing premium suggests a recalibration in investor expectations as trading stabilizes ahead of the launch. Pump.fun, a meme-coin launchpad built on Solana, announced the token in June alongside a revenue-sharing initiative for token holders. The token has a total supply of 1 trillion, with 33% allocated to early participants via a private sale (18%) and public sale (15%). The ICO will run from July 12 to July 15 on crypto exchange Bybit, providing a limited window for broader participation. Related Reading: ‘Real’ Crypto Bull Run Just Beginning, Says Analyst—Here’s Why While details of the airdrop mechanics have not been fully disclosed, the ongoing activity suggests that large holders are actively managing their exposure before the distribution phase begins. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView
A man convicted in a $22 million crypto fraud scheme saw his prison sentence sharply increased after failing to repay the money he owed his victim. Nicholas Truglia, 27, who was initially sentenced to 18 months, received a new 12-year sentence on Thursday in a New York federal court. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ordered the increase after ruling that Truglia had willfully ignored his obligation to pay back nearly $20.4 million in restitution. “You paid not a cent, not one cent,” Judge Hellerstein told Truglia during the hearing. The judge further ordered an added 3-month supervised release while noting Truglia’s lifestyle. “You didn’t have a job, but you lived in splendor,” Judge Hellerstein said. Judge Slams Crypto Fraudster’s Lavish Lifestyle in SIM-Swap Sentencing According to the report from Bloomberg, Truglia’s legal team argued the new sentence was unlawful. His attorney, Mark Gombiner, said in court that the punishment was “an extraordinary abuse of discretion” and confirmed plans to appeal. #breaking for real: Hacker Truglia sentenced to 12 years, more than double the guideline of 51 to 63 months, for not paying his $20 million restitution. Video of him speaking behind a mask cited and used. Appeal to follow – but remand to Marshals about to occur https://t.co/tWBdzgd4zT — Inner City Press (@innercitypress) July 10, 2025 Arrested in the California Bay Area in 2018, Truglia pleaded guilty in 2021 to participating in a scheme that involved hijacking a victim’s phone number through SIM swapping and draining their crypto accounts. The hackers exploited a telecom employee to gain control of Michael Terpin’s phone number. Terpin, a blockchain investor and CEO of Transform Group, suffered a loss of $24 million due to this scheme. Notably, Truglia was tasked with converting stolen cryptocurrency into Bitcoin. In 2019, Terpin filed a civil lawsuit for $75 million against the scammer and was awarded the full amount in damages by the court. That same year, he also took legal action against AT&T, his wireless carrier at the time, filing a $224 million lawsuit for their negligence. Their failure to secure his cell phone allowed the hackers to compromise it, resulting in his loss. At the time of his initial sentencing, prosecutors revealed that Truglia held more than $50 million in assets, including cryptocurrency, luxury goods, and fine art. Gombiner told the court that his client had turned over all assets he could access, including funds from a Wells Fargo account. Truglia claimed that much of his wealth remained locked in an inaccessible Bitcoin wallet. He told the judge he would repay the victim if he could access the funds. Terpin, who joined the hearing by phone, rejected that explanation, calling it “a giant smoke screen.” U.S. Ramps Up Enforcement as Crypto Crimes Lead to Decades-Long Sentences In the U.S., crypto crimes continue to result in severe penalties. On May 23, Trung Nguyen, a Massachusetts man who ran an unlicensed cash-to-Bitcoin business, was sentenced to six years in federal prison . His company, disguised as a vending machine operator, processed over $1 million in illicit cash, including funds for a known methamphetamine dealer. Nguyen, who used the alias “DCS420,” was convicted in 2024 for money laundering and failing to register with FinCEN. Just two weeks earlier, on May 9, Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa received a 30-year sentence for sending crypto to ISIS operatives . U.S. prosecutors revealed that between 2019 and 2022, Chhipa funneled more than $185,000 to the terrorist group, funding fighters and prison escapes. A federal judge sentenced Chhipa to over 30 years for funding ISIS through cryptocurrency, supporting fighter salaries, and prison breaks. #DOJ #CryptoCrime https://t.co/74BdhgaEjh — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) May 9, 2025 His use of burner phones and fake identities ultimately failed to hide his tracks. He was caught attempting to flee and intercepted on an Interpol notice. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice is pushing for a 20-year sentence for Alex Mashinsky, the former CEO of Celsius. Prosecutors say Mashinsky’s fraudulent practices cost investors $550 million, describing his actions as deliberate and self-serving. Celsius founder Alex Mashinsky was sentenced to 12 years in prison for defrauding investors with false promises of high crypto returns. #Celsius #AlexMashinsky https://t.co/R4syyDiKaU — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) May 9, 2025 He pled guilty in late 2024 after Celsius collapsed in mid-2022, freezing $4.7 billion in customer funds. These back-to-back cases underscore mounting pressure from courts and regulators to address crypto misuse, whether through scams, market abuse, money laundering, or terrorism financing. The post Crypto Scammer’s Sentence Jumps from 18 Months to 12 Years in $20M Fraud Case appeared first on Cryptonews .
SharpLink Gaming, a publicly listed sports and online casino marketing firm, is rapidly positioning itself to become the largest corporate holder of Ethereum (ETH). Key Takeaways: SharpLink Gaming is rapidly accumulating Ethereum, with reserves reaching $612 million. The company raised $64 million recently, allocating $37 million for further ETH purchases and staking. SharpLink is on track to surpass the Ethereum Foundation as the largest corporate ETH holder. The company has been purchasing tens of millions of dollars worth of ETH every day, according to Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin , who also chairs SharpLink’s board and leads Consensys, a major Ethereum software developer. At the current rate, SharpLink is on track to overtake the Ethereum Foundation, which currently holds around $725 million worth of the cryptocurrency. Nasdaq-listed Sharplink Gaming’s shares are up over 8% in pre-market today. SharpLink’s Ethereum Holdings Reach $612 Million As of Thursday, SharpLink’s Ethereum reserves stood at $612 million. “We are accumulating more and more consistently — we’re able to acquire tens of millions of dollars in Ether a day,” Lubin told CNBC. The aggressive accumulation marks a new chapter for SharpLink. CEO Rob Phythian revealed in May that the company would expand beyond its traditional business, selling approximately $425 million in stock to investors including Consensys. The proceeds are earmarked for Ethereum purchases, establishing ETH as SharpLink’s primary treasury reserve asset. This approach echoes that of Strategy, a software firm that has amassed $67 billion in Bitcoin since 2020. Following SharpLink’s announcement, its stock price surged nearly 2,700%, peaking at $124 on May 30. However, the price later plunged by 75% after an SEC filing allowed insiders to sell shares. Lubin clarified on social media that neither he nor Consensys has sold any shares and described the filing as standard. Between June 28 and July 4, SharpLink raised $64 million, committing $37 million of it to further Ethereum purchases . The company has also staked its entire ETH holdings, earning 322 ETH in staking and restaking rewards since early June. According to the Strategic ETH Reserve tracker, 46 entities hold more than 1.3 million ETH collectively worth over $3.6 billion. SharpLink currently ranks second among corporate holders, behind the Ethereum Foundation and ahead of Coinbase and others. After dipping below $10 in mid-June, SharpLink’s stock has rebounded to $18. Meanwhile, Ethereum’s price reached $2,967 on Thursday, its highest level since early February. More Public Companies Diversify into Crypto Following the model pioneered by Michael Saylor’s Strategy, more public companies are diversifying into crypto holdings that include BTC, ETH, SOL, and XRP. Just recently, BIT Mining announced plans to raise between $200 million and $300 million to build a Solana (SOL) treasury as part of a broader expansion into the fast-growing blockchain ecosystem. Last week, DeFi Development Corp. revealed that it has acquired $2.7 million worth of Solana as part of its aggressive crypto treasury strategy. Likewise, Canadian digital asset firm Sol Strategies, already trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange, holds over 420,000 SOL tokens, positioning itself as a significant institutional player in Solana’s ecosystem. Last month, the firm also filed to list its common shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker “STKE” as it ramps up its U.S. expansion. The post SharpLink Stock Soars as It Doubles Down on Ethereum Treasury Strategy appeared first on Cryptonews .
Dubai, UAE, July 11th, 2025, Chainwire Terra Nexus Project Management Service CO.L.L.C S.O.C (Representative: Hidetoshi Tashiro) based in Dubai, UAE, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sinohydro Bureau 6 Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Sinohydro"), a Chinese government-owned infrastructure company, regarding a mining partnership for mining resources in the West African region and tokenization of the resources. This agreement will bring Terra Nexus' real-world tokens (RWA), named "WFCA" (World Friendship Cash Asset), into the full-fledged implementation phase beyond the drawing board, based on the mining partnership with Sinohydro, which will encompass joint field development. Overview of the partnership Sinohydro is a Chinese government-owned construction company engaging in infrastructure projects in over 70 countries across the world. The MoU will trigger collaborations in the following fields: Exploration and mining of diamond, gold, and rare metal mines in West Africa Infrastructure development (e.g., roads and utilities) and the creation of regional employment opportunities in mining areas Logistics building for dressing, storage, transportation, and export of ores Provision of underlying assets for WFCA linked with the mining business What is WFCA? A WFCA（World Friendship Cash Asset）is a digital token (RWA) backed by real mineral resources that are issued and managed by Terra Nexus. Phase 1: Natural diamonds Phase 2: Rare metals including gold, platinum, lithium, and nickel Not covered: Strategic resources (e.g., uranium, copper, and iron ores) Technical platforms: Ethereum and ZK-Rollups for real-time asset tracking Primary applications: Asset protection, international settlements, inflation hedging, financial instruments (trusts and securities), etc. The purpose of this project is to establish a financial infrastructure visualizing real values rather than speculative virtual currencies. Future prospects: Incremental development of the joint mining project with Sinohydro (starting with diamonds) Phased issuance and circulation of WFCA tokens based on mining performance Creation of a new credit system in areas with limited financial access Establishment of a highly-transparent asset verification system based on blockchains Creation of a new model for connecting local economies and global investors "The execution of this MoU marks the historic first step toward bringing the concept of WFCA into a real business project. With WFCA, we will be able to verify reliable 'real asset values' via blockchains connecting investors across the world and local economies." - Hidetoshi Tashiro, the representative of Terra Nexus About WFCA World Friendship Cash (WFCA) is a blockchain-based ecosystem integrating metaverse NFTs, dedicated chains, and DeFi. It builds a secure, transparent, and efficient digital economy, empowering global trade and driving inclusive economic growth. About Terra Nexus Terra Nexus aims to harmonize global capital circulation and regional development through the tokenization of real assets and innovation in financial structures. We transform real-world assets (RWAs) such as mining, real estate, and renewable energy into trusted "capital products" for investors through financial engineering and Web3 technology. TERRA NEXUS https://terranexus.io/ ContactTerra Nexus Project Management Service CO.L.L.C S.O.Cinfo@terranexus.io Disclaimer: This is a sponsored press release and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Crypto Daily, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.
Bitcoin reached a fresh, all-time high above $116,000 on Thursday, July 10, a development that one analyst highlighted as a clear sign of rapid evolution.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that the nation can survive without involvement with the US after Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports. Lula further asserted that they will look for other trade partners. During a live interview with Record TV, the Brazilian leader highlighted that they must find new partners to sell their products. He then made known the role the US had been playing in their economy. He says Brazil’s trade with the US only makes up 1.7% of their GDP, asserting they can manage this without the US. He also reiterated remarks made at the recent BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, where he called for a global shift away from the US dollar in international trade. Lula urged fellow world leaders to explore alternatives to the greenback to reduce dependency in global commerce. Lula condemns Trump’s trade strategy In a letter on Wednesday , July 9, US President Donald Trump threatened Brazil and warned of a 50% tax on all its imports. The maneuver, he said, was retaliation for the continued legal problems of Jair Bolsonaro, a Military officer and former President of Brazil. Additionally, the US levies — above the 10% first announced in April — came after the BRICS emerging market nations’ summit. The event had seen Lula and other leaders speaking out against tariffs and military actions in Iran, even though they did not directly mention Trump. Lula had promised to respond by taking his own actions. His government and supporters backed him and accused Trump of meddling in Brazilian business through quick public relations efforts. Notably, the US is Brazil’s second biggest trading partner after China. Economists believe a 50% tariff could cause a 1% decline in Brazil’s economy. Trump finds himself in trouble with the new tariff threats on Brazil President Trump’s tariff threat has subjected the conception of his power to a serious court test. After the US president sent a letter stating that the tariff was largely a response to Brazil’s treatment of its ex-president, he invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify imposing retaliatory tariffs on select foreign threats, a White House official confirmed. The administration’s invocation of IEEPA in this context has not gone unchallenged, and a case challenging Trump’s reciprocal tariffs is now before a federal appeals court. Trump’s legal team defended his actions in court, saying that using the IEEPA was legal and meant to fix numerous national emergencies, including America’s increasing trade deficit. US senators criticize Trump’s tariff policy on Brazil, calling it a “new job-killing tariff” Some contend that the 50% tariff on Brazilian imports wouldn’t directly affect the ongoing lawsuit for Trump. Still, others caution that his hostile trade maneuvers could hurt the administration’s credibility. Tim Kaine, a junior United States senator from Virginia, commented on the situation. Kaine stated that Trump’s letter about the tariff on Brazil is an abuse of power on a whole new level. He then promised to use every option available to stop these new job-killing tariffs. Ron Wyden, a senior United States senator from Oregon, also criticized Trump’s action. Wyden accused Trump of trying to harm the economy to settle his personal grudges, which, according to him, go beyond his legal power. KEY Difference Wire helps crypto brands break through and dominate headlines fast
Ethereum price started a fresh increase above the $2,800 zone. ETH is now consolidating gains and might aim for a fresh move above $3,000. Ethereum started a fresh increase above the $2,850 level. The price is trading above $2,840 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a key bullish trend line forming with support at $2,885 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could start a fresh increase if it remains supported above the $2,840 zone in the near term. Ethereum Price Rallies Above $2,880 Ethereum price started a fresh increase above the $2,750 zone, like Bitcoin . ETH price gained pace for a move above the $2,800 resistance zone and entered a positive zone. The bulls even pumped the price above $2,880. Finally, it tested the $3,000 zone. A high was formed at $3,000 and the price is now consolidating gains. It is stable above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,515 swing low to the $3,000 high. Ethereum price is now trading above $2,880 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average . Besides, there is a key bullish trend line forming with support at $2,885 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. On the upside, the price could face resistance near the $2,980 level. The next key resistance is near the $3,000 level. The first major resistance is near the $3,040 level. A clear move above the $3,040 resistance might send the price toward the $3,120 resistance. An upside break above the $3,120 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,200 resistance zone or even $3,220 in the near term. Are Downsides Limited In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,000 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,920 level. The first major support sits near the $2,880 zone and the trend line. A clear move below the $2,880 support might push the price toward the $2,750 support or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,515 swing low to the $3,000 high. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,720 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $2,650. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $2,880 Major Resistance Level – $3,000
NRW.BANK, a German state-owned development bank, has issued a €100 million ($116.7 million) blockchain-based bond on the Polygon network, marking a major public-sector step into digital securities. The bond, with a two-year maturity, was issued under Germany’s Electronic Securities Act (eWpG). This legislation enables the issuance and registration of bonds entirely on blockchain networks, eliminating the need for physical certificates. Cashlink Registers Regulated Bond on Polygon as eWpG Law Fuels DLT Adoption The German bank used the infrastructure of Cashlink Technologies, a BaFin-licensed crypto securities registrar, to register the bond, with Polygon serving as the underlying blockchain. NRWBANK, Germany’s largest regional development bank, has tokenized its first fully digital bond, with support from leading financial institutions like @DeutscheBank , @dzbank , and @DekaBank . Polygon will serve as the rails for the EUR 100 million bond, registered via Cashlink as… pic.twitter.com/37jqqQpz8F — Polygon (@0xPolygon) July 10, 2025 According to the report, institutional investors such as Deutsche Bank, DZ BANK, and DekaBank took part in the offering, acting as joint lead managers. “This is more than a technical milestone. It’s a signal that public financial institutions are ready to move beyond blockchain pilots and start integrating these systems at scale,” said Michael Duttlinger, CEO of Cashlink. The bond marks the first time NRW.BANK has made a fully digital issuance of this kind, further reflecting growing confidence in blockchain for regulated capital markets. Notably, Germany’s eWpG law, introduced in 2021, has created a clear legal path for the use of distributed ledger technology in securities. This has helped attract banks and public institutions toward tokenized finance. While still small in size compared to the traditional bond market, digital bond activity is accelerating. Polygon’s involvement in the issuance also comes at a time when the network is preparing for a major technical upgrade. The Polygon Foundation is set to deploy Heimdall 2.0 , a new consensus layer for its proof-of-stake blockchain. Scheduled to go live on Thursday, the upgrade seeks to reduce finality time to just five seconds and enhance network resilience by minimizing the likelihood of chain reorganizations. “This is the most technically complex hard fork Polygon PoS has seen since its launch in 2020,” wrote Sandeep Nailwal, CEO of the Polygon Foundation, on X. Shipping Announcement! We’ve been on a shipping spree—and next up is Polygon PoS’s consensus layer, Heimdall v2, landing 10 July 2025. This is the most technically complex hard-fork Polygon PoS has seen since it's launch in 2020 What’s changing? 1. Heimdall sheds all… — Sandeep | CEO, Polygon Foundation (※,※) (@sandeepnailwal) July 8, 2025 He added that the upgrade would reduce the finality time to around five seconds and decrease the risk of chain reorganizations. The coincidence of the bond issuance and the Polygon upgrade indicates the growing maturity of the blockchain infrastructure underpinning tokenized finance. Digital bonds offer advantages such as real-time tracking, faster settlement, and reduced administrative overhead, which are now attracting public-sector issuers. Germany Advances Digital Bond Push as Banks and Industrials Embrace Blockchain Germany is quickly emerging as a hub for regulated blockchain finance. Recent digital bond issuances by major institutions, including DZ BANK, DekaBank, Commerzbank, NRW.BANK, KfW, and Siemens, indicate the country’s accelerating adoption of tokenized securities, enabled by its 2021 Electronic Securities Act (eWpG). Earlier this month, KfW, Germany’s state-owned development bank, issued a CHF 140 million digital bond via the SIX Digital Exchange (SDX) in Switzerland. Beyond banking, German industrial giant Siemens also entered the digital securities space. In February 2023, Siemens issued its first digital bond, worth €60 million ($64 million), on Polygon’s public mainnet. Beyond digital bonds, Germany’s traditional banking sector is deepening its engagement with crypto. Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, the nation’s largest banking group with over 50 million customers, seeks to introduce crypto trading services to its customers by mid-2026. The move will be coordinated through Dekabank, a financial institution owned by Sparkassen, and will allow retail clients to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether directly within the group’s mobile banking app. The German Savings Banks Association confirmed the development, framing it as a response to the recently implemented EU Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. According to the group, the goal is to offer customers “reliable access to a regulated crypto offering.” Sparkassen joins a growing list of German banks moving toward crypto adoption; for example, DZ Bank, the country’s second-largest lender , began testing trading and custody services for digital assets in 2023 through a partnership with Boerse Stuttgart Digital. Similarly, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg announced plans earlier this year to launch crypto custody services for institutional clients in collaboration with Austrian exchange Bitpanda. Meanwhile, Polygon continues its strategic pivot. Following the May 24 resignation of co-founder Mihailo Bjelic , leadership has been consolidated under Sandeep Nailwal, now acting as CEO of the Polygon Foundation. BIG update – As the largest holder of POL and someone who dedicated his life to development and success of @0xPolygon from the very beginning, I have decided to take full control of Polygon Foundation and will be its CEO going forward. Polygon Foundation owns and oversees… — Sandeep | CEO, Polygon Foundation (※,※) (@sandeepnailwal) June 11, 2025 Under Nailwal, Polygon seeks to sunset its underperforming zkEVM chain and refocus on core verticals, including real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, stablecoin payments, and its proof-of-stake (PoS) chain. Despite a drop in market cap, from $20 billion at its peak to $1.7 billion, Polygon remains a key player in tokenization. Incredible. Arbitrum and @0xPolygon together account for 83% of the entire tokenized global bond market Source: @RWA_xyz pic.twitter.com/IDbzeKhiwi — Peter ( , , ) (@p_petertherock) July 10, 2025 According to rwa.xyz , the network ranks 6th in total RWA value, with over $343 million in assets across 254 tokenized instruments. It also captures 37.7% of the entire tokenized bond market, signaling its continued relevance in institutional blockchain infrastructure. The post German State Bank Issues €100M Bond on Polygon – Is TradFi Finally Embracing Crypto? appeared first on Cryptonews .
On July 11, Ethereum-related investment vehicles experienced significant capital inflows, as reported by farside monitoring. The FETH fund recorded a substantial net inflow of $37.3 million, highlighting increased investor confidence
Open Interest and liquidations data had some interesting observations for Bitcoin's price performance.